SHINSEI SEINARU MONASTERY APPLICATION
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Out-Of-Character (OOC) Section
IN-GAME NAME (IGN):
bethecreature, wethecreature
DISCORD NAME & TAG:
wethecreature#6625
WHAT IS YOUR TIMEZONE?:
MST
DO YOU HAVE A MICROPHONE?:
I prefer not to speak in voice calls but I am perfectly fine listening in.
DESCRIBE YOUR ACTIVITY ON THE SERVER:
I would say my activity is a 7-8. I am on around half of the week and try to balance out my different characters.
WHAT POSITION ARE YOU APPLYING FOR?:
Miko [Itako-Miko]
Mikan wishes to learn how to be an Itako if she is taken in as a Miko.
WHAT KNOWLEDGE DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE OF SHINTOISM AND ARE YOU PREPARED/WILLING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RELIGION?:
RITUALS
I know many of the rituals and practices well (as seen below), like tea ceremonies, cleansing, and offerings. I also can recall somewhat how sealings and exorcisms are performed. Typically sealings are performed with Ofudas and a spirit is sealed in with blessed objects, whereas an exorcism is like this but more... hardcore, herbs, blessed objects, chants, etc, for getting rid of more powerful spirits.
BLESSED ITEMS
Items that have been blessed with different blessings (luck, warding off evil) through a ritual taking blessing from the Kami.
CURSED ITEMS
Items cursed with malevolent intent, typically bringing harm to those in its possession.
YOKAI
Yokai are diverse mythical and folklore monsters that are a large part of Japanese culture. Karakura specifically is plagued with these spirits.
ROLES
I am knowledgeable about the different roles of the shrine (see below questions).
WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FOR THIS ROLE OVER OTHER APPLICANTS?
I have previous experience in this role, and through that experience, I have learned a large amount about the religion of Shintoism. I know a lot about how shrine works and can be very helpful with guests due to this prior experience.
DO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOU WILL HAVE TO ATTEND MANDATORY TRAININGS TO BE TAUGHT MORE ABOUT SHINTOISM AND THE ACCORDING PROCEDURES?:
Absolutely.
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In-Character (IC) Section
SECTION 1: Character Details
CHARACTER FULL NAME:
Mikan Chiyu A.
(A. is short for Asōgi)
CHARACTERS TITLE (E.g. Mr. Mrs. Miss):
Mrs., Ms., Ma'am, Lady, No Title.
CHARACTERS AGE (E.g. 21-80):
24
CHARACTERS MARITAL STATUS:
Unmarried
CHARACTERS NATIONALITY:
Japanese
CHARACTERS PHONE-NUMBER:
030-007-3516
WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR APPLYING TO WORK AT THE MONASTERY?:
My motivation to apply for this position was specifically due to my interest in Shintoism and religious study, along with using what skills I do have to help the community of Karakura. I also wish to become an Itako (otherwise known as Ichiko or Ogamisama) and learn about being a spiritual medium.
TELL ME WHAT HISTORY AND INFORMATION YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SHINSEI SEINARU MONASTERY:
I have studied this subject to an extent.
The shrine was built in the 700s by Buddhist Monks. It was later burnt down in the 1100s by the Buddhist monks inhabiting it to stage a rebellion, and later rebuilt in the 1200s. Far later, 350 years later, a local warlord burnt down the shrine to send a message to the people of Karakura.
Although the shrine has been through a lot, it still stands as a symbol of hope and purity in this dark town.
Other than that, I don't know much.
WRITE A LETTER TO THE MONASTERY LEAD :
Dear Mitsue-Shiro Saiky,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I recently learned that Karakura has a shrine (I've just recently moved here), and it piqued my interest as the establishment looks gorgeous. I have extremely poor eyesight, and from what I've heard, Miko with blindness or impaired vision can train to become "Itako" or spiritual mediums. Although I am unsure if the Shinsei Seinaru Shrine is interested in training me in something like this, being able to offer what I can to the shrine would be the best I can do for Karakura.
Best Wishes,
Mikan Chiyu
BACKSTORY (100+ Words):
[300 WORDS]
Mikan was born to two loving parents, and her life was smooth, however, her father would come to show her true colors later in her life and killed her uncle, before dissapearing completely. Mikan was born with impaired vision, making it far more challenging to live her life. When she was old enough to get her first job, she was unable to because she had too much trouble with sight. She is unable to drive and needs some assistance walking (be it cane, person, or device). Mikan still, despite challenges, remained in a positive state. She was able to first find her purpose helping the local shrine with small simple things. She wasn't able to do much, but she felt connected to the shrine and its people. The shrine was like a Kami, in her eyes. She could feel its presence, despite its inanimacy.
Mikan at one point stopped going to the shrine to pursue something new in her life. Although that feeling of home and blessedness never stopped aching in her heart, she continued on and found passion in art and writing. Although doing anything like this was hard, she was able to still express herself, be it a recording of her reciting a poem or a canvas with messy splotches. She would stay with her mom for a while after that, starting a slow education on her passions and in Theology, which still ingered int he back of her mind.
Later, her family moved to Karakura, but she stayed behind. She took a while to learn a bit more about everything, and took time to learn more about herself and her beliefs. She realized that her heart was still aching for the comfort of the shrine, however it also ached for her family. She realized that she should go to be with her family before anything. Perhaps she might pursue a profession as a shrine worker here, hm?
SECTION 2: Self-Knowledge Details
What duties do Shinto Priests and Maidens have?:
Priests typically work more with religious rituals, purification, weddings, et cetera.
Maidens typically work with chores and guests, as well as helping the priests. Maidens are trusted with dancing the Kagura Suzu, a sacred theatrical dance.
However some places Priest and Maidens share their duties. In many places, both Maidens and Priests investigate spiritual activity.
What are the steps needed to be taken at the purification trough before entering the Shrine?:
When entering the shrine, you will find a trough of water where you must wash your hands before you enter. First, you must take a wooden ladle, and scoop up some water. Second, you will rinse your other hand with water, cleaning it, before doing the same thing for the other hand. Third, you wash out your mouth, then you clean the ladle. This is supposed to cleanse you. Now that you have finished, you may enter the shrine.
How are offerings to a Kami performed?:
The individual donating the offering either usually puts it into an offering box and rings the sacred bell, beckoning the Kami's presence into the hall of worship, or gives the offering to the priest and the priest acts as a gateway way between the individual and the Kami, beckoning them into the room.
How do you perform a tea ceremony ritual?:
First, you must invite those you want to come a few weeks in advance, and during that time decide on utensils and decorations for the upcoming ceremony. Second, you must clean the room and set out utensils, as well as lay out the seasonal flowers. Third, Guests must wash their hands and spiritually prepare, before walking in through a small door. All guests must bow when they come in. Fourth, you will cleanse the utensils. Cleansing the utensils isn’t the act of cleaning them, as that has already been done beforehand. This is just symbolic. To do so, you must get The Fukasa (Silk Cloth) and wipe down each utensil one by one. Then you will put The Chasen (The Whisk) In The Chawen (Tea Bowl) with warm water. Fifth, you will then make the tea and give it to your guests, serving the important guests first until there is no tea left. Sixth, you will clean the utensils and tools, starting with The Chawin (Tea Bowl). The bowl is then given to the most principal guest to admire and then is passed on to the rest for them to admire. Lastly, after the ceremony is over, the guests will bow to the host and leave, it is also common for them to say thank you on the day after the ceremony. The tea bowl used during the ceremony will be presented to the guests in turn, which will then be passed down to the guests. When guests receive the tea bowl, the front of the bowl should be facing them. Once the guests have the bowl, it should be held in the right hand and then placed on the left palm. You should always bow and raise the tea bowl to the host once before sipping. To drink your tea, rotate the bowl clockwise, so the front is now not facing you. Take your first sip and compliment the host on their tea. Clean the lip of the bowl once you have sipped your tea and then turn the front of the bowl back to face the host. There is also a sitting position called seiza which you must sit in during the whole ceremony. This sitting position is crossing your legs and placing your heels underneath your bottom. For a tea ceremony, you should wear a Kimono (though this is a loose rule) and it is also advised that you wear socks, as you must take off your shoes when you enter the tea room.
Explain what a Tamagushi, Ofuda and Kagura Suzu is and what they're used for:
Tamagushi- is a form of Shinto offering made from a sakaki tree branch decorated with strips of washi paper, silk, or cotton. At Japanese Weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies at Shinto shrines, Tamagushi are ritually presented to the
Kami
Ofuda- An Ofuda is a talisman made of many materials like cloth, wood, paper, or even metal. Ofuda are considered to be imbued with the power of gods and are commonly found in Shinto and Buddhist shrines.
Kagura Suzu- Kagura Suzu is a set of twelve bells used in the Kagura Dance. The set consists of three tiers of bells suspended by coiled brass wires from a central handle: two bells on the top tier, four bells on the middle tier, and six bells on the bottom tier.
(OPTIONAL) Based on your character; which other Kami would they worship?:
Kuebiko - Kami of Folk Wisdom, Knowledge, and Agriculture
───────────────────────────────────────
I'm quite certain I'm not deleting the application this time.
───────────────────────────────────────
Out-Of-Character (OOC) Section
IN-GAME NAME (IGN):
bethecreature, wethecreature
DISCORD NAME & TAG:
wethecreature#6625
WHAT IS YOUR TIMEZONE?:
MST
DO YOU HAVE A MICROPHONE?:
I prefer not to speak in voice calls but I am perfectly fine listening in.
DESCRIBE YOUR ACTIVITY ON THE SERVER:
I would say my activity is a 7-8. I am on around half of the week and try to balance out my different characters.
WHAT POSITION ARE YOU APPLYING FOR?:
Miko [Itako-Miko]
Mikan wishes to learn how to be an Itako if she is taken in as a Miko.
WHAT KNOWLEDGE DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE OF SHINTOISM AND ARE YOU PREPARED/WILLING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RELIGION?:
RITUALS
I know many of the rituals and practices well (as seen below), like tea ceremonies, cleansing, and offerings. I also can recall somewhat how sealings and exorcisms are performed. Typically sealings are performed with Ofudas and a spirit is sealed in with blessed objects, whereas an exorcism is like this but more... hardcore, herbs, blessed objects, chants, etc, for getting rid of more powerful spirits.
BLESSED ITEMS
Items that have been blessed with different blessings (luck, warding off evil) through a ritual taking blessing from the Kami.
CURSED ITEMS
Items cursed with malevolent intent, typically bringing harm to those in its possession.
YOKAI
Yokai are diverse mythical and folklore monsters that are a large part of Japanese culture. Karakura specifically is plagued with these spirits.
ROLES
I am knowledgeable about the different roles of the shrine (see below questions).
WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FOR THIS ROLE OVER OTHER APPLICANTS?
I have previous experience in this role, and through that experience, I have learned a large amount about the religion of Shintoism. I know a lot about how shrine works and can be very helpful with guests due to this prior experience.
DO YOU ACKNOWLEDGE YOU WILL HAVE TO ATTEND MANDATORY TRAININGS TO BE TAUGHT MORE ABOUT SHINTOISM AND THE ACCORDING PROCEDURES?:
Absolutely.
───────────────────────────────────────
In-Character (IC) Section
SECTION 1: Character Details
CHARACTER FULL NAME:
Mikan Chiyu A.
(A. is short for Asōgi)
CHARACTERS TITLE (E.g. Mr. Mrs. Miss):
Mrs., Ms., Ma'am, Lady, No Title.
CHARACTERS AGE (E.g. 21-80):
24
CHARACTERS MARITAL STATUS:
Unmarried
CHARACTERS NATIONALITY:
Japanese
CHARACTERS PHONE-NUMBER:
030-007-3516
WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR APPLYING TO WORK AT THE MONASTERY?:
My motivation to apply for this position was specifically due to my interest in Shintoism and religious study, along with using what skills I do have to help the community of Karakura. I also wish to become an Itako (otherwise known as Ichiko or Ogamisama) and learn about being a spiritual medium.
TELL ME WHAT HISTORY AND INFORMATION YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SHINSEI SEINARU MONASTERY:
I have studied this subject to an extent.
The shrine was built in the 700s by Buddhist Monks. It was later burnt down in the 1100s by the Buddhist monks inhabiting it to stage a rebellion, and later rebuilt in the 1200s. Far later, 350 years later, a local warlord burnt down the shrine to send a message to the people of Karakura.
Although the shrine has been through a lot, it still stands as a symbol of hope and purity in this dark town.
Other than that, I don't know much.
WRITE A LETTER TO THE MONASTERY LEAD :
Dear Mitsue-Shiro Saiky,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I recently learned that Karakura has a shrine (I've just recently moved here), and it piqued my interest as the establishment looks gorgeous. I have extremely poor eyesight, and from what I've heard, Miko with blindness or impaired vision can train to become "Itako" or spiritual mediums. Although I am unsure if the Shinsei Seinaru Shrine is interested in training me in something like this, being able to offer what I can to the shrine would be the best I can do for Karakura.
Best Wishes,
Mikan Chiyu
BACKSTORY (100+ Words):
[300 WORDS]
Mikan was born to two loving parents, and her life was smooth, however, her father would come to show her true colors later in her life and killed her uncle, before dissapearing completely. Mikan was born with impaired vision, making it far more challenging to live her life. When she was old enough to get her first job, she was unable to because she had too much trouble with sight. She is unable to drive and needs some assistance walking (be it cane, person, or device). Mikan still, despite challenges, remained in a positive state. She was able to first find her purpose helping the local shrine with small simple things. She wasn't able to do much, but she felt connected to the shrine and its people. The shrine was like a Kami, in her eyes. She could feel its presence, despite its inanimacy.
Mikan at one point stopped going to the shrine to pursue something new in her life. Although that feeling of home and blessedness never stopped aching in her heart, she continued on and found passion in art and writing. Although doing anything like this was hard, she was able to still express herself, be it a recording of her reciting a poem or a canvas with messy splotches. She would stay with her mom for a while after that, starting a slow education on her passions and in Theology, which still ingered int he back of her mind.
Later, her family moved to Karakura, but she stayed behind. She took a while to learn a bit more about everything, and took time to learn more about herself and her beliefs. She realized that her heart was still aching for the comfort of the shrine, however it also ached for her family. She realized that she should go to be with her family before anything. Perhaps she might pursue a profession as a shrine worker here, hm?
SECTION 2: Self-Knowledge Details
What duties do Shinto Priests and Maidens have?:
Priests typically work more with religious rituals, purification, weddings, et cetera.
Maidens typically work with chores and guests, as well as helping the priests. Maidens are trusted with dancing the Kagura Suzu, a sacred theatrical dance.
However some places Priest and Maidens share their duties. In many places, both Maidens and Priests investigate spiritual activity.
What are the steps needed to be taken at the purification trough before entering the Shrine?:
When entering the shrine, you will find a trough of water where you must wash your hands before you enter. First, you must take a wooden ladle, and scoop up some water. Second, you will rinse your other hand with water, cleaning it, before doing the same thing for the other hand. Third, you wash out your mouth, then you clean the ladle. This is supposed to cleanse you. Now that you have finished, you may enter the shrine.
How are offerings to a Kami performed?:
The individual donating the offering either usually puts it into an offering box and rings the sacred bell, beckoning the Kami's presence into the hall of worship, or gives the offering to the priest and the priest acts as a gateway way between the individual and the Kami, beckoning them into the room.
How do you perform a tea ceremony ritual?:
First, you must invite those you want to come a few weeks in advance, and during that time decide on utensils and decorations for the upcoming ceremony. Second, you must clean the room and set out utensils, as well as lay out the seasonal flowers. Third, Guests must wash their hands and spiritually prepare, before walking in through a small door. All guests must bow when they come in. Fourth, you will cleanse the utensils. Cleansing the utensils isn’t the act of cleaning them, as that has already been done beforehand. This is just symbolic. To do so, you must get The Fukasa (Silk Cloth) and wipe down each utensil one by one. Then you will put The Chasen (The Whisk) In The Chawen (Tea Bowl) with warm water. Fifth, you will then make the tea and give it to your guests, serving the important guests first until there is no tea left. Sixth, you will clean the utensils and tools, starting with The Chawin (Tea Bowl). The bowl is then given to the most principal guest to admire and then is passed on to the rest for them to admire. Lastly, after the ceremony is over, the guests will bow to the host and leave, it is also common for them to say thank you on the day after the ceremony. The tea bowl used during the ceremony will be presented to the guests in turn, which will then be passed down to the guests. When guests receive the tea bowl, the front of the bowl should be facing them. Once the guests have the bowl, it should be held in the right hand and then placed on the left palm. You should always bow and raise the tea bowl to the host once before sipping. To drink your tea, rotate the bowl clockwise, so the front is now not facing you. Take your first sip and compliment the host on their tea. Clean the lip of the bowl once you have sipped your tea and then turn the front of the bowl back to face the host. There is also a sitting position called seiza which you must sit in during the whole ceremony. This sitting position is crossing your legs and placing your heels underneath your bottom. For a tea ceremony, you should wear a Kimono (though this is a loose rule) and it is also advised that you wear socks, as you must take off your shoes when you enter the tea room.
Explain what a Tamagushi, Ofuda and Kagura Suzu is and what they're used for:
Tamagushi- is a form of Shinto offering made from a sakaki tree branch decorated with strips of washi paper, silk, or cotton. At Japanese Weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies at Shinto shrines, Tamagushi are ritually presented to the
Kami
Ofuda- An Ofuda is a talisman made of many materials like cloth, wood, paper, or even metal. Ofuda are considered to be imbued with the power of gods and are commonly found in Shinto and Buddhist shrines.
Kagura Suzu- Kagura Suzu is a set of twelve bells used in the Kagura Dance. The set consists of three tiers of bells suspended by coiled brass wires from a central handle: two bells on the top tier, four bells on the middle tier, and six bells on the bottom tier.
(OPTIONAL) Based on your character; which other Kami would they worship?:
Kuebiko - Kami of Folk Wisdom, Knowledge, and Agriculture
───────────────────────────────────────
I'm quite certain I'm not deleting the application this time.
Last edited:
